Coach of Year: Shadowens stayed confident in Blaze

8:56 PM,
Dec. 24, 2013

Blackman head coach Philip Shadowens has been named The Daily News Journal's 2013 Football Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 11-3 record and the school's first Class 6A state semifinal appearance.

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Philip Shadowens had a high level of confidence in his Blackman High School football team this season.

It didn't matter that virtually the entire county had pegged Oakland as Rutherford County's top team in the preseason. And he never flinched when the Blaze entered the postseason with back-to-back losses.

"I saw a lot of things with this team," said Shadowens of his confidence. "I saw a team that loved to be around each other and have fun in practice. They had a good time at practice, but they practiced hard. ...